Dwyane Wade Speaks With Ellen DeGeneres on His 12-Year-Old Being Transgender

Parenthood comes with a lot of challenges. You not only have to raise a child, but support them mentally, financially, and protect them from the dangers of the world. Some challenges are easier to prepare for than others. Former NBA player Dwyane Wade shared one of those challenges about raising his 12-year-old who recently came out to him as transgender.

Meet Zaya. She’s compassionate, loving, whip smart and we are so proud of her. It’s Ok to listen to, love & respect your children exactly as they are. Love and light good people. pic.twitter.com/G2lLVdD2VT

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) February 11, 2020

You can tell in the video above that Zaya is self-aware, hell even more than a lot of adults in the world. She knows who she is and what is her truth. As a parent, you cannot want anything more than your child to embrace their truth and own their identity.

Wade sat down with Ellen DeGeneres who is one of the most known members of the LBGTQ+ community and spoke on raising Zaya who was formerly known as Zion. He told the story of Zion coming home and telling him and his wife actress Gabrielle Union that he wanted to be known as Zaya. Zaya also wanted to be referred to with the pronouns she/her.

Back in a December interview, you might’ve recollected Wade referring to Zion as she/her. Many speculations came from social media as to why he was referring to his son like that, but now the world has the answer.

So incredibly moving watching @DwyaneWade so eloquently and lovingly talk about his 12-year-old daughter, who will now go by Zaya. pic.twitter.com/5nuJsW5MTV

— Ξvan Ross Katz (@evanrosskatz) February 11, 2020

Wade and Union have done an amazing job of not only accepting Zaya but sharing their journey with the world as parents and helping shed ignorance in dealing with this transition.

Also, Lookout For

An ESPN documentary titled “D Wade: Life Unexpected” is set to air Sunday, February 23. Take a look at the preview below for it.

10 years in the making… D. Wade: Life Unexpected premieres Sunday, February 23, at 9 p.m ET on @espn pic.twitter.com/6d4G1vMbHZ

— DWade (@DwyaneWade) February 5, 2020